PARIS (AFP) - The Brazilian Football Confederation said Friday it had sent a letter to FIFA calling for a crackdown on racism in the sport, after a series of incidents targeting players including Brazil star Vinicius Junior.
The CBF told AFP it had also addressed the letter to European football’s governing body, UEFA, and the South American confederation, CONMEBOL, urging stronger action to fight racism and raise awareness about a problem that has long dogged the sport.
The letter comes after an effigy of Vinicius Junior, who plays for Real Madrid, was found hung by the neck from a bridge near the Spanish club’s training center ahead of their derby against crosstown rivals Atletico Madrid last week.
The player -- who scored a goal in his team’s 3-1 win that day -- was also the victim of racist slurs at a league match between the two clubs in September.